Main city street to reopen for buses and taxis
CASTLE Street in Cardiff is set to be re opened to buses and taxis, but not private cars, from the middle of November.
The street was closed to motor vehicles in the summer to make more space for pedestrians and cyclists, and an outdoor cafe that has recently been packed away.
The proposed move to reopen the road to some traffic will be temporary. Cardiff council will consult the public soon on what should happen to Castle Street permanently.
The temporary reopening is not set in stone but pending a legal process called a Traffic Regulation Order that will take around three weeks.
The temporary changes include widening the pavement on the side of the street with the shops; having two lanes for buses, taxis and emergency vehicles to drive in both directions; and keeping the new cycle lane.
The wider pavement could be used by pubs and cafes to have extra space for tables outside.
Councillor Caro Wild, cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, said: “The council recognises that the closure of Castle Street has divided opinions, with strong arguments being made in favour and against the changes that have been implemented in recent months.
“Alongside a detailed modelling exercise on future traffic flows, we will undertake a comprehensive consultation exercise, involving city-centre businesses, local residents, and citizens across Cardiff, to help determine the final plan for the street.”
Before the summer, the heavily congested Castle Street had three lanes open to all traffic and one bus lane – with no dedicated cycle lane. Nitrous dioxide pollution on the road was forecast to breach legal limits by 2021.
Since the road was closed to motor vehicles, air pollution has dropped massively.
It is currently unclear how much the outdoor cafe and the road closure have cost the council, but a freedom of information request has been sent which should reveal all the financial details.
Views are split on what the council should do with the road, with concerns over congestion and air pollution, journeys across the city centre taking much longer, and safety for cyclists and pedestrians. More details on the public consultation about permanent changes to Castle Street are expected soon.